Coal-mining machine



V pri 18, 1944. c. E. HAIR ErAL GOAL MINING MACHINE-y 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1942 MEHR /A//EA/ro/as: CHARLA-1s E. HA/e,

E/CHAED 7.' HA ll?,

TToe//EK April ls, 1944. C; E, HA|R ErAL 2,346,678

COAL MINING MCHINE n.\.`\ A AAA {rximmuni f @NWWWW BLZ/W26; mug. y

Patented Apr. 18, 1944 UNITED s'lrn'rrsV 2,311,6,613y COAL-MINING MACHINE Charles Edwin Hair and Richard T. Hair,

' Benton, vIll.

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to-mining machines. More particularly, our invention has to do with, and has for its object the improvement of, coal-mining machines of the articulated type illustrated and described in our present pending patent applications, Serial No. 436,648, filed March 28, 1942, and Serial No. 447,052, led June '15, 1942.

And with the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)- Figure 1 is a plan view of a coal-mining machine constructed in accordance with and ernbodyng our invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the machine with its several pistons in normal or contracted condition; Y

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the machine, partly broken away and in section, illustrating the machine with its several extensible pistons in fully elongated condition;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view 'through one of the jack-units of the machine taken approximately on the line 4 4, Figure 2; Figure 5 is a similar view taken approximately on the line 5-5, Figure 3;

-ure 3, through a fluid coupling-member of the machine;

.Figure 8 is a reduced elevational View of the machine as disruptingly or dislodgingly disposed in a coal wall or body; and

Figure 9 is a similar view, illustrating some of .the units of the machine in successively pistonelongating condition for the breaking down cf `the coal wall or body.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illus- `tratea preferred embodiment of our invention, lthe machine, briefly outlined, includes a series of Vjack-unts A, each unit including a hood-encased and protected selected plurality of co-operable `cylinders B and pistons C pivotally or hingedly joined or connected in an integrated, articulated, aligning series by means of interposed coupling- A-members or links D.

Each unit A, in turn, includes a suitably elon- Vlill ATENT OFFICE gated generally oblong-rectangular block a preferably rounded or of arcuate contour on its under face, as at l, suitably cored in the provision cf a selected plurality of parallel chambers or cylinders B, and, for purposes presently appearing, formed preferably integrally at its opposite ends with longitudinally outwardly presented oppositely disposed relatively thick or block-shaped ears 2.

Working in each respective cylinder B of a unit A, is a preferably two-part extensible plunger or piston C, which includes a tubular base-portion @circumferentially reduced at its lower end for accommodating suitable cylinder-engaging or sealing rings 4 preferably held in place by suitably sized iianged caps 4a apertured in their respective end walls, as at-db, and also counterbored for providing an annular shoulder, as at 5, for engaginga ring -6 thread-seated in the upper end of the particular cylinder B for limiting the upward or elongating Vor extending travel or movement of the piston-portion 3, all as best seen in Figures 4 and 5.

Telescopically co-operable with the piston-portion 3, is a complementing rod-portion 'l annularly enlarged and thereby provided adjacent its lower end with an annular shoulder, as at 8, for engagement with an annular abutment shoulder 9 formed in the upper end of the companion piston-member 3 for similarly limiting elongating or expanding movement of the piston-rod 'l with respect to its cylinder B and companion member 3, the rod 'i having a reduced lower-end extension 'la for accommodating suitable cylinder engaging or sealing rings l0, in turn, preferably held in place Vby spring-rings IU yieldingly engaging the piston-end, all also as best seen in Figures 4 and 5.

It might be here mentioned that a cylinder B and piston C are so relatively proportioned and sized as to be completely nested when in normal4 or contracted condition, as best seen in Figures 2 and 4, and to have a stretch of approximately three inches when in abnormal or fully elongatedv or extended condition, as best seen in Figures 3 and 5, each piston-rod 'i being preferably rounded, as at "ib, on its upper face. It may also be here mentioned that each unit A has a length of approximately one foot and embodies vlive pairs of companion or cooperable cylinders B and piston C.

Formed longitudinally in the base-wall Il of each block a, is a hydraulic or other suitable uid passage or channel, as at l2, adapted for communication with the interior of each cylinder extension or so-called eary 2li'.y

B of the unit A, as shown. The channel or passage I2 has a preferably upwardly and outwardly presented continuation I4 and annular enlargement I5I at each end of the particular block a for accommodating a nipple or the like IS for communicating connection, as by means of respective flexible hose or tubular sections E, with adjacent units A, it being understood that the machine as a whole may include any selected number of units A disposed in suitably spaced end-to-end aligning relation and the tubular sections E being of such unique flexible or yielding structure as to permit the respective units A to shift one relatively to the other, the channel-continuation I4 of the last or rear-end unit A of a particulary machine being, of course, equipped with a suitable closure-plug or the like I5 and the seated nipple I6' in the rstor frontend unit A being adapted for communicating connection through and by a suitable flexible hose or pipe F With any suitable-source of hydraulic `or other fluid supply.

Loosely fitting for movement over and upon each respective Vblock a and its projecting ears 2 and forming a part of a particular unit A, is a protecting and reinforcing hood G, which is generally of substantially inverted U-shape in section, as best seen in Figure 5, with opposite end-portions g provided vertically in their side walls with surface recesses g', as best seen in Figure l, each hood G including a bight-wall II having a series of openings I8 suitably spaced for accommodating the plungers I and opposite end-walls I9 cut away, as at d, for-shiftably accommodating respective nipples I6 and their connected tubular sections E.

Each hood G, in the opposite recesses g' of the side walls 20 of its end-extensions g, is also provided or formed with vertically disposed registering'olosed-endslots 2I'for shiftably accommodating the outwardly presentedhead-portions of studs 22 engaging the embraced unitv Afor retaining the hoods G in operative engagement with and over the blocks a and limiting the relative'movement of the hoods G during the reciprocation of the respective pistons C;

Each coupling-member or link D is centrally approximately of U-shape in vertical cross-sec'- tion and includes a reduced base' or bottomwall 23 and suitably longitudinally elongated and vertically disposed side walls 24-24, which latter are welded or otherwise permanently xd at their lower margin to and upon the side-margins of the reduced bottom wall 23fand`eacl1 of which at-itsrespective ends has a4 longitudinal lnl coupling a pair of units A, the end-ears 2 of such unitsare, in opposed relation, fitted between, and by means of suitable pivot-pins 25 swingablyv or hingedly joined to, the ears 24 of the walls'24 Iof a link or coupling member D, as best seen in Figures l, 2, and 3, whereby, as will be evident, one unit A may hingedly shift or articulate' vertically; or

lobliquely relatively to its adjacent unitl A inra coal dislodging operation,- each machine preferably including one unit A for every three feet of under-cut.

Accordingly, in use and-operation, anundercut or kerf, as J, '1s suitably formed or 'produced in or adjacent the bottom level of vthel particular Wall or body K of coal being mined,` and in` suitably spaced relation upwardly from .the kerf .or under-cut J a desired plurality iof suitablyrspaced -and elongated annular holes, as at L, are formed inthe coal-body K.. One 10x*A more machineszof our invention are then lengthwise disposed in selected holes L, as indicated in Figure 8, with the several pistons or plungers C of the respective units A thereof in normal or contracted condition.

The hose or pipe F of the end unit A of the particular machine is suitably connected with a source of hydraulic or other fluid supply, and the uid in sufficient volume or amount led into the'successive cylinders B of thev successive units A. Hence, as the pistons C of a unit A are thus successively hydraulically elongated or extended, that portion, as at lc', of the wall K intermediate the under-cut J and the several holes L is, under the relatively great pressure exerted upon the coalv wall or body K by the elongating pistons C, successively disrupted and dislodged and its removal from the mine thereby conveniently facilitated, as is indicated in Figure 9.

In such a dislodging operation, the coupling links or members D readily permitavertically or obliquely hingedly shifting movement between the respective units A, with the result that, as the'ccal shifts under the disrupting pressure exerted thereon by the successively expanding pistons C of each successive unit A, any one or more of the units A may readily move obliquely or to a different plane with respect to the remaining units, as indicated in Figure 9. Hence the machine augments, instead of retards, shifting movement of the dislodged coal and at the same time the relative flexibility of the units A eliminates and obviates breaking of the machine in or by shifting movement of the disrupted coal, the respective arcuate faces I and 'Ib of the respective blocks a of the several units A and of the several plunger-rods I and the pivotally shifting movement of the links D facilitating engagement of the machine with the coal-body, as well as subsequent movement of the Vrespective units A under the shifting movement ofthe disrupted coal. f W

We may add that, of course, on a'gdraining back of the motive uid; the several pistons C of veach respective unit Awill automatically return to normal contracted condition, when the machinek may be 'easily removed for successive like operations, and during and' throughout ,such coal disrupting operations, the several hoodsG pivotally shift with their respective units-A, as well as also shift vertically, as itrmay be said, with the pistons C thereof relatively to the-eng cased block a, and function to efficiently protect the block a and its associated members from damage. o

In all such shifting movements of the respective units A, the hose connections El are protected from=injury or damage bythe underly- `chine-with a hose-guard 26, theears2 of'the severalunits A are, in course of ,rnanufact'ure, provided with a cross bore,as atk 22,* for acco`m` modating the .securing-pins'Zi. f

It is to be understood that'chang'eszandfmodi'- iications in the form, construction, arrangement,

and combination of the several parts of the Inachine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described Without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining-machine, a pair of jacks each including a co-operable cylinder and piston, means comprising a pipe-member joining the jacks for iluid communication, and means joining the jacks one to the other for relative hinge movement, said last means including a link having a pair of spaced side walls embracing the pipe-member, ears on the jacks opposingly iitting between said walls, and pins pivotally engaging the Walls and ears.

2. In a mining-machine, a pair of jacks each including a co-operable cylinder and piston, means comprising a pipe-member joining the jacks for uid communication, and means joining the jacks one to the other for relative hinge movement, said means including a link comprising a reduced bottom wall and a pair of spaced upstanding longitudinally vextended side walls for embracing the pipe-member, ears on the jacks opposingly fitting between said side Walls, and pins pivotally engaging the side Walls and ears.

3. In a mining-machine, in combination, a pair of jack-units each including an elongated block, a series of spaced parallel cylinders in the block, and reciprocatory pistons Working in and relatively to the cylinders, each block having a channel communicating its several cylinders for iiuid pressure iioW, and means joining the jacks for fluid communication and for articulation, said means comprising a iieXible pipe-member and a rigid link engaged With the blocks and the link being disposed protectingly about the pipemember.

4. In a mining-machine, in combination, a pair of jack-units each including an elongated block, a series of spaced parallel cylinders in the block, and reciprocatory pistons working in and reltively to the cylinders, each block having a channel communicating its several cylinders for iiuid. pressure flow, and means joining the jacks for fluid communication and for articulation, said means comprising a ilexible pipe-member and a link engaged with the blocks and the link being of U-shape in vertical section and having its side Walls disposed protectingly upon opposite sides of the pipe-member.

5. In a mining-machine, in combination, a jackunit including an elongated block, a series of spaced parallel cylinders in the block, and reciprocatory pistons working in and relatively to the cylinders, each block having a channel communicating its several cylinders for uid pressure iiow, means compri-sing a pipe-member engaged with the block for coupling the unit with a source of fluid pressure supply, the block having an ear projecting under a portion of the pipe-member and a strap disposed about the pipe-member and having its ends engaged with the ear for reinforcingly protecting said coupling means against breakage.

6. In a mining-machine, a jack-unit compri-sing an elongated block, a series of spaced parallel cylinders in the block, and reciprocatory pistons Working in and relatively to the cylinders, the block having a channel communicating its several cylinders for fluid pressure flow, means comprising a pipe-section engaged With the block for coupling the jack-unit to a source of fluid supply, the block having an ear endvvise projecting under the pipe-section, and means comprising a strapguard of inverted U-shape disposed medially about the pipe and having its ends engaged With and upon opposite sides of the ear for reinforcingly protecting the pipe-section from breakage.

'7. In a mining-machine, a jack-unit comprising an elongated block, a series of spaced parallel cylinders in the block, reciprocatory pistons Working in the several cylinders, a hood having spaced Walls and iitting over the block, the hood having spaced openings for accommodating movement therethrough of portions of the pistons, the hood being provided with registering slots in its side walls and relatively to the block being shiftable with the pistons through a portion of their stroke, and opposed studs on the block engaging the hood at said slots for limiting movement of the hood relatively to the block.

8. In a mining-machine, a jack-unit comprising an elongated block, a series of spaced cylinders in the block, reciprocatory pistons Working in and relatively to the cylinders, the block having a channel for communicating its several cylinders for fluid flow, a hood having spaced side Walls and iitting over and upon the block, the hood having spaced openings for accommodating movement therethrough of portions of the pistons, the hood relatively to the block being movable with the pistons through a portion of their stroke and the hood being slotted in an end wall and also having registering slots in its side Walls, and opposed studs on the block engaging the hood at said side slots for limiting movement of the hood relatively to the block, the block having a uid supply connection communicating with said channel and tting the end wall slot of the hood.

CHARLES EDWIN HAIR. RICHARD T. HAIR. 

